From 1831 to 1844, the faith community of St. Stephen's existed as a mission church being served by priests from Utica, NY;  most notably, Fr. J. Stephen Raffeiner.  The first church in Croghan was a log cabin or blockhouse, erected in 1831 measuring 20 x 30 feet; it possessed neither windows nor doors and was located on the present site of the home of Vincent & Sharon Purpura.  A new church was built in 1834.  This early Catholic community would meet on the land which is presently occupied by Marilley's Store.  Beginning with the pastoral service provided by Fr. Raffeiner and Fr. Francis Guth, and the various priests who would follow, the Church of St. Stephen's and other Catholic faith communities in Lewis County began to take shape.  These early priests preached and administered the sacraments, responding to the spiritual hunger and longing of the German and French immigrant population.  They wanted to be servants to God's people, and God's people welcomed their service.

         As Croghan and the communities in this extensive region continued to grow, the need for a resident priest became necessary.  Thus in 1854 Fr. Anthony Heimo from Switzerland was appointed.  He was followed in later years by:    Fr. Philip Nicholas
                                                                       Fr. Clement Mutsaers
                                                                       Fr. Ladislaus Korten
                                                                       Fr. Joseph Lesen
                                                                       Fr. James Smith
                                                                       Fr. Gavrel Volkert
                                                                       Fr. Thomas Fields

These priests served not only Catholics in Croghan, but also those in Belfort & New Bremen, and other hamlets in Lewis County.

         On August 31, 1869  the St. Stephen's Church community was formally incorporated.  In 1872 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg was officially established.  Thus the fledging new diocese had to recruit and form its own clergy.  Seven years after the formal incorporation of the parish and after a two year period of not having a resident pastor, a band of German Franciscan Friars, expelled from their own country because of the Prussian persecution, approached the diocese's first Bishop, Edgar P. Wadhams, requesting a pastoral appointment.  Bishop Wadhams, according to the Franciscan Chronicles, said to Franciscan Father Ferdinand Muller and his group of five friars:  "Here are altar breads and wine.  Go to Croghan, say Mass, and serve there."

         In February of 1876, the ministry of the Franciscan Friars from Fulda, Germany began in the Catholic Communities of Croghan, Belfort, New Bremen and other missions in Lewis County.  These parochial centers of faith and worship had their spiritual and sacramental needs provided for them under the leadership of:  Fr. Ferdinand Muller, the first Franciscan pastor,
                                     Fr. Francis Koch
                                     Fr. Gregory Schlitt
                                     Fr. Albert Stroeble
                                     and Fr. Bernadine Bidinger, who established the churches in Indian River in 1896 and in Castorland in 1900.

        In 1901 a new entity within the Franciscan Order was established which became know as Holy Name Province.  Thus, the Churches of St. Stephen's, St. Vincent's, St. Peter's, St. Anthony's, and St. Ann's were entrusted to the care of the Franciscan Priests of the Holy Name Province.  From among the many Franciscans assigned to the monastery at Croghan, the following served as pastor of St. Stephen's and its mission churches:  Fr. Leo Heinrichs
                                                    Fr. Anthony Berghoff
                                                    Fr. Hilary Reinhold
                                                    Fr. Joseph Bussen
                                                    Fr. Hyacinth Rueberg
                                                    Fr. Antoninus Buch
                                                    Fr. Martin O'Kane
                                                    Fr. Amadeus Burke
                                                    Fr. Fintan Murphy
                                                    Fr. Reginald Baliman
                                                    Fr. John Chouinard
                                                    Fr. Anthony Moore
                                                    Fr. Patrick Callaghan
                                                    Fr. Xavier Porreca
                                                    Fr. Myron McCormick
                                                    Fr. Vincent Shea
                                                    Fr. Raymond Lynch

          In 1990, a new era began in the pastoral leadership of the Church which gathers at St. Stephen's;  the care of the Catholic Community in Croghan and surrounding area was turned over to the priests of the Diocese of Ogdensburg.  Fr. Leo Wiley became the first diocesan priest appointed pastor and served the community for 16 years.  June 28, 2006 saw the arrival of Fr. Daniel L. Chapin as pastor. 

          Let us pray that the faith that took root here in the early 1800's will continue to grow and be challenged; and let us pray that we will always sow God's love joyfully, faithfully and with exuberant humility.